German Navy NH90 Sea Tiger Naval Helicopter | Photo: Airbus Helicopters
Berlin: The German Navy has received its first new ship-based helicopter, which is primarily intended to assist in anti-submarine warfare.
The NH-90 MRFH Sea Tiger naval aircraft will offer new possibilities for state and federal defence, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said after the aircraft landed on Defence Ministry grounds in Berlin.
The helicopter can defend against underwater and surface threats from the air and hunt submarines, the minister said.
“Putin is continuing to massively upgrade his navy. He has little or no need for it in Ukraine. The Black Sea Fleet is one thing, but the North Atlantic Fleet is something else,” Pistorius said.
“This means that we, as NATO and as the Federal Republic of Germany, need to equip our naval forces quickly and better.”
German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius, attends the handover of the first new NH90 Sea Tiger helicopter to the German Navy at the German Ministry of Defense in Berlin on December 16, 2025. The Bundeswehr has ordered 31 of the new on-board helicopters, which can also be used in combat against submarines and ships | Photo: Christoph Soeder/dpa
The Sea Tiger is equipped with a diving sonar and a sonar buoy system to be able to scan under the surface and locate submarines. Torpedoes and anti-ship missiles can be deployed from the helicopter.
A total of 31 Sea Tigers are to be stationed at Naval Air Wing 5 in Nordholz, Lower Saxony. The model is intended to replace the Sea Lynx, which has been in service with the German Navy since 1981.
The Multi Role Frigate Helicopter variant is specially designed for use on frigates.
Additional Reporting
“We are extremely proud to deliver the first NH90 Sea Tiger today to the German Navy, on cost, on time and on quality,” said Stefan Thomé, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Germany. “The Sea Tiger will provide the Navy with a powerful tool to defend Germany’s, Europe’s and NATO’s borders in the Baltic Sea and in the Atlantic – offering outstanding anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.”
Airbus Helicopters said in a statement, ‘The German Navy already operates 18 NH90 Sea Lion naval transport helicopters, which were delivered on schedule between 2019 and 2023. They are continuously deployed on maritime search and rescue missions and onboard 702-class replenishment ships.’
The German Navy NH90 helicopters feature ‘Novelties include a new Electro-Optical System and improved Electronic Support Measures (ESM). On top, the Sea Tiger is equipped with a dipping sonar, sonobuoys, and weapons (torpedoes and missiles).’
Airbus Helicopters said 135 naval NH90 helicopters have been delivered to six nations, completing over 90,000 flight hours with more than 530 NH90 helicopters in service globally that have accumulated almost 500,000 flight hours. Last week, the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force placed an order for three NH90 helicopters to add to its fleet of 20 aircraft. The aircraft will be assembled by Leonardo in Italy.
NHIndustries is owned by Airbus Helicopters (62.5 percent), Leonardo (32 percent) and GKN Fokker (5.5 percent).
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